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| One-punch deaths: How lives are devastated by a single blow | One-punch deaths: How lives are devastated by a single blow |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Trevor Timon has been convicted of killing bank worker Oliver Dearlove with a single punch. It's not the first case of its kind to make headlines, but how does one punch kill someone and what are the consequences for those involved? | |
| Robert Holland had been on a rare night out after months of working seven-day weeks. | Robert Holland had been on a rare night out after months of working seven-day weeks. |
| Before the 36-year-old went to the Oceana nightclub in Nottingham, he phoned his mother, Therese, to tell her he would visit her the next day. | Before the 36-year-old went to the Oceana nightclub in Nottingham, he phoned his mother, Therese, to tell her he would visit her the next day. |
| It was the last time they spoke. | It was the last time they spoke. |
| Hours later, in the early morning of 28 October 2011, Robert suffered fatal brain injuries from just one punch. | Hours later, in the early morning of 28 October 2011, Robert suffered fatal brain injuries from just one punch. |
| Therese learned what had happened later that morning when police visited her home. | Therese learned what had happened later that morning when police visited her home. |
| "When they told me I was just screaming," she said. "I even punched them and told them to get out of my house, telling them how dare they tell me lies." | "When they told me I was just screaming," she said. "I even punched them and told them to get out of my house, telling them how dare they tell me lies." |
| Robert's death was caused by the force of one punch severing an artery in his brain. | Robert's death was caused by the force of one punch severing an artery in his brain. |
| Liam Rockley, a 21-year-old former bouncer, later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. | Liam Rockley, a 21-year-old former bouncer, later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. |
| 'Just as lethal' | 'Just as lethal' |
| Robert's death is far from an isolated case. | Robert's death is far from an isolated case. |
| While no official figures are available on one-punch deaths, the campaign group One Punch Can Kill has recorded more than 80 fatalities since 2007. | While no official figures are available on one-punch deaths, the campaign group One Punch Can Kill has recorded more than 80 fatalities since 2007. |
| Many of the cases have attracted media attention - in large part because it seems extraordinary that one punch can kill. | Many of the cases have attracted media attention - in large part because it seems extraordinary that one punch can kill. |
| But Duncan Bew, a consultant in trauma and acute care at King's College Hospital, said this reflects a fundamental lack of understanding. | But Duncan Bew, a consultant in trauma and acute care at King's College Hospital, said this reflects a fundamental lack of understanding. |
| "People are very much focused on penetrating injuries, but actually punching someone in the head can be just as lethal," he said. | "People are very much focused on penetrating injuries, but actually punching someone in the head can be just as lethal," he said. |
| Mr Bew said deaths from one punch tended to happen in one of three ways. | Mr Bew said deaths from one punch tended to happen in one of three ways. |
| Sometimes, as in Robert's case, the blow itself will cause fatal damage to the brain. Alternatively, it could cause a physiological response where people stop breathing and the brain is starved of oxygen. | Sometimes, as in Robert's case, the blow itself will cause fatal damage to the brain. Alternatively, it could cause a physiological response where people stop breathing and the brain is starved of oxygen. |
| But in other cases, a punch will cause a person to lose consciousness and strike their head on a hard surface. | But in other cases, a punch will cause a person to lose consciousness and strike their head on a hard surface. |
| The impact is similar to being hit over the head with a block of concrete, Mr Bew said. | |
| 'Silly row' | 'Silly row' |
| Many one-punch killings involve young men, often in drink-fuelled, random acts of violence. | Many one-punch killings involve young men, often in drink-fuelled, random acts of violence. |
| But Finola Farrant, a criminologist at the University of Roehampton, said the circumstances of cases often varied dramatically. | But Finola Farrant, a criminologist at the University of Roehampton, said the circumstances of cases often varied dramatically. |
| These can range from unprovoked assaults, to people who have landed fatal blows in self-defence. | These can range from unprovoked assaults, to people who have landed fatal blows in self-defence. |
| In some cases arguments between close friends have resulted in a fatal punch. | In some cases arguments between close friends have resulted in a fatal punch. |
| Last October, Richard Eveleigh was jailed for killing his best friend of 45 years, Paul Lightowler, with a single punch in what the court heard was a "silly" row. | Last October, Richard Eveleigh was jailed for killing his best friend of 45 years, Paul Lightowler, with a single punch in what the court heard was a "silly" row. |
| Dr Farrant said the question for courts to explore in these cases was the extent to which defendants should be culpable for someone's death when they may not have intended - or even realised - that one punch could kill. | Dr Farrant said the question for courts to explore in these cases was the extent to which defendants should be culpable for someone's death when they may not have intended - or even realised - that one punch could kill. |
| Indeed, such is shock of those unintended consequences that the attackers and their families may come to see themselves as victims too, she added. | Indeed, such is shock of those unintended consequences that the attackers and their families may come to see themselves as victims too, she added. |
| One-punch killer: 'People aren't in control of their emotions' | One-punch killer: 'People aren't in control of their emotions' |
| Jacob Dunne was 19 when he killed 28-year-old trainee paramedic James Hodgkinson with one punch in 2011. | Jacob Dunne was 19 when he killed 28-year-old trainee paramedic James Hodgkinson with one punch in 2011. |
| He was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment for manslaughter. | He was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment for manslaughter. |
| After his release, Jacob agreed to answer questions from James's parents about what happened as part of a scheme called Restorative Justice. | After his release, Jacob agreed to answer questions from James's parents about what happened as part of a scheme called Restorative Justice. |
| Later he met them in person, and keen to show them he was turning his life around, he re-took his GCSEs, did an Access course for university, and is now studying criminology at Nottingham Trent University. | Later he met them in person, and keen to show them he was turning his life around, he re-took his GCSEs, did an Access course for university, and is now studying criminology at Nottingham Trent University. |
| Jacob, now 24, says he believes one-punch deaths, and violent crime in general, could be reduced by teaching children emotional wellbeing in schools. | |
| "A lot of this aggression stems from people not being in control of their emotions. | "A lot of this aggression stems from people not being in control of their emotions. |
| "In reality people need to ask the question 'why are you fighting on the weekends?' The answer is going to be different for everyone." | "In reality people need to ask the question 'why are you fighting on the weekends?' The answer is going to be different for everyone." |
| Jacob now speaks in schools about his experience and in December gave a talk to the TED conference. | Jacob now speaks in schools about his experience and in December gave a talk to the TED conference. |
| He remains in touch with James's parents. | He remains in touch with James's parents. |
| For those affected by one-punch deaths, the end of the court process can signal the end of formal support and counselling. | For those affected by one-punch deaths, the end of the court process can signal the end of formal support and counselling. |
| That lack of support contributed to Ann Bartlett setting up One Punch Can Kill in 2010. | That lack of support contributed to Ann Bartlett setting up One Punch Can Kill in 2010. |
| Her son, Kyle, a 21-year-old Royal Navy sailor, suffered a fatal brain injury after being punched in Portsmouth on 5 May 2009. | Her son, Kyle, a 21-year-old Royal Navy sailor, suffered a fatal brain injury after being punched in Portsmouth on 5 May 2009. |
| "Our message is: 'Be a hero and walk away from a fight'", Ann says. | "Our message is: 'Be a hero and walk away from a fight'", Ann says. |
| The question of how the number of one-punch deaths can be reduced is one both Ann and Therese believe needs to be considered by lawmakers. | The question of how the number of one-punch deaths can be reduced is one both Ann and Therese believe needs to be considered by lawmakers. |
| Both want sentences to be toughened to match Australia, where there is a minimum of eight years for one-punch killings. | Both want sentences to be toughened to match Australia, where there is a minimum of eight years for one-punch killings. |
| Currently in the UK, the attacks are usually treated as manslaughter and often result in custodial sentences of fewer than five years. | Currently in the UK, the attacks are usually treated as manslaughter and often result in custodial sentences of fewer than five years. |
| But Dr Farrant said she was doubtful specific guidelines around one-punch deaths would help. | But Dr Farrant said she was doubtful specific guidelines around one-punch deaths would help. |
| "We've got a very experienced judiciary who can hear and understand the nuances of individual cases that are so markedly different," she said. | "We've got a very experienced judiciary who can hear and understand the nuances of individual cases that are so markedly different," she said. |
| Mr Bew said the UK should consider following Australia's lead by introducing padded flooring outsides pubs, bars and nightclubs. | Mr Bew said the UK should consider following Australia's lead by introducing padded flooring outsides pubs, bars and nightclubs. |
| But one area all four agree on is the need for a high-profile campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of one punch. | But one area all four agree on is the need for a high-profile campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of one punch. |
| "Perhaps they need to have signs up in nightclubs, 'think before you punch' and things like that." Therese said. | "Perhaps they need to have signs up in nightclubs, 'think before you punch' and things like that." Therese said. |
| Remembering Robert, she added: "He had such plans and he wanted to be a dad. That's never going to happen. | Remembering Robert, she added: "He had such plans and he wanted to be a dad. That's never going to happen. |
| "It's such a waste." | "It's such a waste." |